ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH, KANGPOKPI

Kangpokpi, in the District of Senapati, lies by the side of the Kohima-Imphal highway, 45 km away from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. The people belong to Mao and Kuki tribes. Most of the Catholics of the parish belong to the Mao tribe.

Carved out from the parish of Senapati, the mission of Kangpokpi came to be started in 1987. It was permanently entrusted to the MSFS and hence the centre is named after our patron, St. Francis De Sales. Fr. John Kuttikottayil was appointed as the priest in-charge of the centre until it was erected as a parish on 3rd January 1988, by Rt. Rev. Joseph Mittathany, the bishop of Imphal. Fr. Philip Mangat was appointed as the first parish priest. Fr. Stephen Marayikulam (Sr.) took charge from Fr. Philip in 1994 and worked there till 1998. The years between 1994 and 1998 were very difficult times as there were serious ethnic clashes between the Nagas and Kukis.

In 1998 Fr. George Kunnel became the parish priest at Kangpokpi. A presbytery was a felt need and hence in 2000 the construction of presbytery was taken up and was completed by the end of 2001. Fr. Kurien Pattimakil was appointed as parish priest of the centre in Aug. 2001 and he took up the extension and modification of the school building. Fr. Thomas Kochuparathanath took charge as a parish priest in the year 2008. In 2010 the old church building was demolished and the foundation stone was laid for the new church in the year 2011 by Rev. Fr. Francis Thadathil, the Provincial. Frs. Francis Poovelil, Lukose Perumannikalayil and Kusumkant Toppo worked there as assistant priests. In 1988, Sisters belonging to the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) came to Kangpokpi to assist in the parish activities. Recently the name of the town has been changed to Kagui.

In 1994, the parish of Kangpokpi was bifurcated and the mission of Pangmol comprising chiefly the Kuki tribe was created. This new mission is entrusted to the Congregation of the Missions (CM).

Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI)

The Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) came to serve the Mission at Kangpokpi in 1988. Srs Paula, Theresa Thomas, Vinaya George and Sumum Theresa formed the pioneering team. The sisters teach in the school, run a dispensary for the people and manage the Girls’ Hostel.